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Sgt.Squarehead

Following a fortuitous visit to a second hand bookshop I recently accquired an aged copy of Bruce Quarrie's Modelling Military Vehicles. Reading it provided me with yet another nostalgic look back to the modelling world of my youth!

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However the book also includes details on how to convert the Airfix Bofors Gun Tractor into the 1939-40 version of the Morris CS8. The CS8 is just the vehicle I need for my BEF/OSL forces and I was planning on building a battery of four 40mm Bofors Guns anyway, so it looks like I'll be giving this fairly simple conversion a shot or four!

All the best

Ratch · Posted: Sat 12 Jan 2008 10:02 am Post subject:

That looks interesting Andy

I shall be following this conversion closely

_________________
and was Jerusalem, builded here
The new No. 2
Airfix Club 500287
IPMS 10983

Sgt.Squarehead · Posted: Sat 12 Jan 2008 18:00 pm Post subject:

Would you like a set of the plans? We could make it a Group Conversion!

All the best

Ratch · Posted: Sun 13 Jan 2008 08:38 am Post subject:

I don't have a spare Bofors/Morris at the moment, but that conversion might look nice on my airfield

_________________
and was Jerusalem, builded here
The new No. 2
Airfix Club 500287
IPMS 10983

DavidM · Posted: Mon 14 Jan 2008 08:29 am Post subject:

What's difference between this CS8 and the Matchbox one that comes with the 17pdr

David
_________________
David Maynard. 1962-2009. Gone too soon but not forgotten.

Sgt.Squarehead · Posted: Mon 14 Jan 2008 17:17 pm Post subject:

About four years.....To be honest that's pretty much all I know!

I believe the vehicle in the MB/Revell 17pdr set is a 1944 Morris C8 lightweight gun tractor derived from the 'Quad'.

All the best

Loll · Posted: Mon 14 Jan 2008 23:17 pm Post subject:

Sgt.Squarehead · Posted: Tue 15 Jan 2008 00:04 am Post subject:

They have, but it's a 1944 vehicle.....Not much use for the BEF or Operation Sealion!

All the best

Ratch · Posted: Tue 15 Jan 2008 07:49 am Post subject:

The Revell/Matchbox Morris is different in that there are four seats in the cab whereas the Airfix tractor has two

Revell/Matchbox

Airfix

_________________
and was Jerusalem, builded here
The new No. 2
Airfix Club 500287
IPMS 10983

DavidM · Posted: Tue 15 Jan 2008 11:21 am Post subject:

I've been racking my brain about the Matchbox CS-8 and I do recall it being an airborne version. IIRC (again) the Bofors tractor is a CD-SW.

David
_________________
David Maynard. 1962-2009. Gone too soon but not forgotten.

DavidM · Posted: Tue 15 Jan 2008 11:25 am Post subject:

Website I tripped over while stumbling around the 'net

http://www.geocities.com/vk3cz/index.html

David
_________________
David Maynard. 1962-2009. Gone too soon but not forgotten.

Loll · Posted: Tue 15 Jan 2008 14:18 pm Post subject:

Sgt.Squarehead · Posted: Tue 15 Jan 2008 17:08 pm Post subject:

I picked up another Bofors & Tractor today, two down, two to go.....Here (I think) is the type of vehicle I will be modelling (Cheers for the link David

):

http://www.geocities.com/vk3cz/CS8pablo.html

For what its worth & all the best
BTW - I've moved the (only slightly Off Topic

) weaponry discussion into a new thread in the 'Military Vehicles' section.

Sgt.Squarehead · Posted: Tue 15 Jan 2008 19:42 pm Post subject:

Basic Construction.....The Easy Bit!
Well I've shortened the chassis and done some of the other required trimming and I have assembled the front end straight from the kit parts. The new cargo bed appears to be the right size for the shorter chassis, so now the easy bit is over and it's time to build up the side-walls and the rear suspension.

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I'd forgotten what a fine kit the Airfix Bofors Tractor is, it fits together beautifully and is a sturdy subject to mess about with for this sort of project. When they put their mind to it Airfix really could do their 1/76 softskins!

For what it's worth & all the best

Sgt.Squarehead · Posted: Wed 16 Jan 2008 10:10 am Post subject:

A little more progress
I have pretty much finished working on the chassis which has now been cut down to it's final form:

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The new cargo bed has been constructed from plastic card and after being left for a night to set properly was also sanded, filed and generally hacked into shape.

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I now need to engrave wood grain on this assembled section and add the various strips and bands. I must also create the rear wheel arches and use these as a guide to build up the rear suspension to the correct height.

For what it's worth & all the best

Sgt.Squarehead · Posted: Thu 17 Jan 2008 00:30 am Post subject:

Woodgrain & Wheelarches
I carved fairly rough wooden planking on the visible sides of the cargo bed and attached it to the chassis. The wheelarches were then fixed in place and trimmed to size. I have also drilled out the small window in the back of the cab's canvas cover.

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I am now preparing fine strips of plasticard to use to add the metal strapping to the cargo bed. Once that is done I must turn my attention to the rear suspension, transmission and other underside details.

For what it's worth & all the best

Ratch · Posted: Thu 17 Jan 2008 09:50 am Post subject:

Good progress

_________________
and was Jerusalem, builded here
The new No. 2
Airfix Club 500287
IPMS 10983

Sgt.Squarehead · Posted: Thu 17 Jan 2008 12:57 pm Post subject:

I'm really enjoying this kit.....It's a fun build!

All the best

Sgt.Squarehead · Posted: Thu 17 Jan 2008 15:08 pm Post subject:

All strapped up!
The strapping has been added to the cargo bed which is now as finished as it's going to get:

[Image Deleted]

[Image Deleted]

Now for the the rear suspension and transmission.

All the best

Ratch · Posted: Thu 17 Jan 2008 15:21 pm Post subject:

No bench seats in the back

_________________
and was Jerusalem, builded here
The new No. 2
Airfix Club 500287
IPMS 10983